Exercise for Your Brain

9 August 2009 8 Comments

There was an astonishing article in Newsweek a few weeks back that just blew my mind! Most of us know that when our hearts, legs, and lungs get pumping, we feel much better than if we did nothing. Turns out that doing 20 minutes or more of cardiovascular and/or high-paced resistance workouts affects every aspect of our lives due to the chemicals that are stimulated in the brain.

Here’s the scoop: When you’re forced to pull more oxygen into the body through exercise, you break what’s called “the blood-brain barrier.” It happens when you climb a long flight of stairs and when you’re busting through any kind of workout that gets your heart pumping. This oxygen-filled blood makes its way into the temporal lobe of the brain. Chemicals and proteins are released that are like “Miracle-grow” for the brain.

Aerobic physical movement causes the release of these chemicals, and they all help you focus and give you energy when you need it. They also help you relax and rest properly. Children who play outdoors more often score better on tests than kids who don’t. Regular physical activity improves memory, mood, and problem-solving abilities. Consistent exercise raises self-esteem and decreases anxiety.

If you’re looking for the fountain of youth, you can find it inside your head every time you exercise for more than 20 minutes. So, get out there and get moving.

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8 Comments »

shraddha said:

wow..that is so motivating..

absolutely love your website..

we finally have an update too..

# 9 August 2009 at 10:44 pm

Jenjen@GottaLoveMom said:

Cool! I’m a Tony Horton fan!
I have his P90, P90X and I also have Hip-hop abs! Hurray for beachbody.com!

It truly works!
Now I have to get back in shape again

# 10 August 2009 at 9:39 pm

Jenn (author) said:

Nice to hear from another Beachbody fan. Thanks for stopping by!

# 11 August 2009 at 7:55 am

Xazmin said:

Then where did the term “dumb jock” come from? I’m totally kidding! I came by from SITS and am excited to browse around your site! I can definitely use some fitness motivation!

# 11 August 2009 at 10:45 am

Ventego said:

I added your blog to bookmarks. And i’ll read your articles more often!

# 12 August 2009 at 9:39 am

Kim said:

I just signed myself up to run my 1st half marathon. That should feed some fuel for my brain!

# 12 August 2009 at 5:00 pm

Jason said:

This is a great site that you have here. I have a sports blog myself and I would like to exchange links with you. Let me know if this is possible. Jason

# 14 August 2009 at 6:41 am